Fixed ammunition for muzzle-loading guns



Mar. 3, 1925. 1,528,101 G. c. DAVISON ET AL FIXED AMMUNITION FOR MUZZLELOADING GUNS Uriini Filed Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

iszaiei UNETEB STATES earner QEQFEQEQ GREGORY C. DAVTSON AND CECIL P.CAULKINS, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, AS- SIGINORS, BY MIESNEASSIGNMENTS, 'IO AMERICAN ORDNANCE CORPORATION, OF

NE YO K,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FIXED AMMUNITION FOR MUZZLE-LOADING GUNS.

Application filed September 23, 1919, Serial No. 325,657. Renewed May26, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GREGORY C. DAVISON and CECIL P. CAULmNs, bothcitizens of the United States, residin at New London, in the county ofNew ndon and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Fixed Ammunition for Muzzle-Loading Guns, of whichthe following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

Our invention relates to ammunition for muzzle loading guns and isparticularly concerned with ammunition for line throwing guns, which areadapted to throw a line from a stranded vessel to the shore, or viceversa, or from one vessel to another for life saving or other salvagingpurposes,

In our copending application, Serial Numher 297,130, filed May 14,1919,we have disclosed a fixed waterproof ammumtion for muzzle loading gunswherein the cartridge case leaves the gun simultaneously with theprojectile. The characteristics of this ammunition are particularlyvaluable in the simplicity and rapidity of loading, the ease of drystoring, and the fact that the e ection orremoval of the cartridge casesubsequent to firing and the dificulties incident thereto are avoided.

Thepresent invention is directed to certain improvements in theconstruction of ammunition of the general type set out in the abovenamed application, whereby the manufacture is simplified and the actionupon firing improved. Other features of the invention, having to do withsimplified shipment and storage, will also appear from the followingdetailed description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the ammunition embodying thefeatures of our invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged axial sectional view, partly in elevation, ofthe cartridge case and the base of the projectile shown in Fi re 1; and

igure 3 is a face view of the rear end of the cartridge case.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that-the projectile 1 is inthe nature of a preferably cast metal, such,

body of metal, for example, as cast iron or steel, provided with athreaded socket 2 in its forward end. The head of the projectile l ispreferably tapered toward the forward end as clearly shown in Figure 1.The threaded end of a stem 3 is screwed into the threaded socket 2. Thestem 3, which is preferably formed of steel, wrought iron, or the like,terminates at its forward end in an eye 4, to which a line 5 ma beattached in any con venient manner. bviously while the stem 3 is therebysecurely attached to the forward end of the projectile, removal andreplacement thereof can be readily accomplished should the stem becometwisted or broken and the projectile desired for subsequent use.

The base of the projectile 1 is provided with a screw threaded socket 6into which is screwed the forward threaded shank 7 of a stem 8. Acartridge case 9, somewhat smaller in diameter than the projectile 1, asshown, is carried by this stem.

This cartridge case 9, which is drawn 0r spun of copper or othersuitable material, comprises a tubular body portion 10, having an endwall 11 formed integral therewith. A flange 12 formed upon the stem 8near its forward end has a suitable washer 13 resting thereagainst andthe end wall 11 of the cartridge case, which has a central opening toreceive the shank 7 is securely clamped between the washer 13 and a nut14 threaded upon the shank 7 of the stem 8. The cartridge case is thusclamped in place upon the stem 8 entirely independently of theprojectile 1. The cartridge case isthus carried upon the projectile 1entirely by way of the threading of the shank 7 in the socket 6. Thecartridge case 9 may thus be conveniently removed from the projectileshould such removal be found deslrable.

The rear end of the cartridge case 9 is closed by means of a cap 15.This cap has a central opening with an inwardly turned fiange 17 whichis soldered to the rear end of the stem 8. It also has a rim 16 to takeover the rear end of the case 9, as shown, when the other end of thecase is' properly clamped against the shoulder 12. This cap is made of amaterial thinner 'or weaker than the case 9, and may be further orotherwise weakened for a purpose to be pointed out presently. The entirecartridge case, loaded as will be described, is waterproofed by means'of japanning or varnishing or treatment with shellac, white lead, orsome other suitable protective substance capable of insuring a moistureproof enclosure.

The rear end of the stem 8 is enlarged and provided with a chamber 18for the reception of a suitable primer 19. Communication between theprimer 19 and the propelling charge 20, with which the cartridge case 9is filled, is accomplished through a passage 21 and a cross openin 22provided in the stem and containing a ooster charge of fine blackpowder.

The cap 15 of the cartridge case may be weakened by the provisionfiof aseries of scorings or knife cuts 23 (Figure 3),the knife cuts beingclosed bythe varnish, shellac, white lead, or other material with whichthe case is treated.

Upon operation of the gun the firing pin cooperates with the primer 19,igniting the cap, the flame being carried through the passage 21 andopenin 22 by the booster charge to the propelling c large 20 in thecartridge case. Upon ignition of the propelling charge, the cap 15,being the weakest part of the cartridge case, breaks first, and thegases blow out rearwardly and then forwardly into the annular spacebetween the cartridge case and the inner wall of the barrel of thepiece. A gunfor which this ammunition is adapted is illustrated in ourcopending application, Serial Number 297,129, liled May 14, 19-19. Asthe pressure builds up the case 9 is ruptured, longitudinally, andtransversely as indicated by the dotand-dash line in Figure 2. Thecounter effect of the pressure which has reached the annular spacearound the case prevents the case from expanding against and adhering tothe wall of the barrel and the result is that the cylindrical part ofthe casing merely crumples up. The end wall 11 is blown forwardlyagainst the base of the projectile, as shown in Figure 2, forming a gascheck. The stem 8, of course, leaves the gun with the projectile 1 andthe cap 15 separates from the stem and crumples up with the case 9. Allparts are propelled from the gun simultaneously with the projectile bythe action of the expanding powder gas. The above described action hasbeen secured by experiment, although variation might be ex pected. Theimportant fact always remains, however, that the gun is cleared in eachcase.

' The ammunition is fixed, moisture proof,

easy of assembly, and easy of shipment and storage, the ca,rtrid ecases, projectiles andstems being shipp and stored separately ifdesired.

We claim:

1. Fixed ammunition comprising a projectile, a rearwardly extending stemon said projectile, a cartrid e case, means inde endent of said projectie for clamping sai cartridge case upon said stem, said cartridge casecarrying a propelling charge, and a primer carried by said stem forigniting said propelling charge.

2. Fixed ammunition comprising a )rojectile, a rearwardly extending stemon said projectile, a cartridge case comprsing an integral cylindricalwall and an end wall clamped to the forward end of said stem and acapclosing the open end of said case, said cap being weaker than saidcylindrical and end walls.

3. Fixed ammunition comprising a projectile, a cartridge case comprisingan integral cylindrical wall and an end wall, a propelling charge in'said cartridge case, a primer for igniting said charge, means fordetachably securing said cartridge case to the projectile, saidcartridge case being sealed independently of the projectile, and meansfor closing the open end of said cartridge case, said means beingsufliciently weak to cause the exploding charge to blow out rearwardlywhereby said cartridge case will leave the gun simultaneously with saidprojectile.

4. Ammunition comprising a projectile, a

rearwardly extending stem having a shank threaded in the base of saidprojectile, said stem having a flange near the forward end thereof, aclamping nut threaded upon ,said shank between said flange and saidprojectile, and a cartridge case having its end wall clamped betweensaid flange and said nut whereby said case is attached to said stemindependently of said projectile.

5.;Ammunition comprising a projectile. a rearwardly extending stemattached to said projectile, a cartridge case having a cylindrical Walland an end wall mounted concentrically upon said stem, said end wallbeing clamped to said stem independently of the projectile, and a capsecured to the rear end of said stem and closing said eartridge case.

In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe our names this 29 day ofAugust, 1919.

GREGORY C. DAVISON. CECIL P. CAULKINS

